Thai port workers demand top boss to step down

BANGKOK, February 16 (TNA) - Workers of the state-run Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) have stopped working overtime,demanding that their director, Viroj Chongchansittho , resigned from his post without any condition. The demonstrators belonging to the PAT Labour Union burned an effigy of coffin and the photo of the director on Friday, announcing that they would resume working overtime only if their incumbent director voluntarily stepped down or was dismissed from his post. The PAT board is scheduled to meet on February 18; while the protesting workers insisted that their demand is to be discussed at the meeting. On Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt ’s earlier remarks that the PAT would hire new workers to replace the demonstrators, the protesting workers said it would be impossible because only experienced persons could handle the job. Jarae Meedanu, President of PAT Labour Union, claimed that the PAT director is no longer suitable for the post, as he has created several damaging problems to the state-enterprise and has not solved long pending compensation for overtime work by the workers. Latest reports indicated, quoting Thai Deputy Transport Minister Prasert Chanrungthong as saying on Saturday, that the demonstrators have now agreed to resume their overtime work as of this weekend after their talks with the PAT board Chairman Police Lieutenant General Kamronwit Thupkrajang, who promised to raise their during the PAD board meeting early next week.(TNA)